Should Brandon Marshall decide to hold out, the Broncos would have their second major protest of the offseason. The first was conducted by quarterback Jay Cutler, who refused to attend the start of the team's offseason conditioning program. The Cutler saga was settled when the Broncos traded him to the Chicago Bears. Marshall underwent hip surgery April 1 and had been rehabilitating at the team's Dove Valley facilities until May 20, when he met with coach Josh McDaniels to communicate his desire for a new contract. He made a brief return to Denver two weeks ago, but only to deal with an ESPN report that rehashed his past legal trouble with his former girlfriend, Rasheedah Watley. Marshall is in the final year of a rookie deal that will pay him $2.198 million this season. Perhaps his primary concern, though, is Marshall might not be eligible for the potential riches of unrestrictive free agency following this season if the league owners and players union don't negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. With owners opting out of the current CBA, fourth-year players like Marshall would be limited to restricted free agency, where the pay scale can pale next to the potential of unrestricted free agency. -- Denver Post

Marshall walked out a little more than an hour later carrying packed boxes to his car before driving away from the players' parking lot without comment, leaving behind this dark possibility: Has he caught his last pass for the Broncos?

I really like Marshall as a player, but I'm tired of all these prima donnas. Brandon, keep your mouth shut, your hands off of women, and help us get in the playoffs and THEN you can start demanding more $$$!

Denver Broncos Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall said he wanted to be traded more than 18 months ago and said he "hated Denver," according to documents obtained by the CALL7 Investigators. Marshall was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Oct. 22, 2007, and according to the police report, he started verbally attacking the city of Denver and saying he wanted to leave the Broncos. "I hate Denver. I hope I get traded." -- ABC 7 News (Denver)